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AP
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A military spokesman says four soldiers have been killed by separatist rebels in the country's restive south.

Saliou Ngom says the attacks happened Monday night. He says eight soldiers were also wounded, and two of the wounded were flown to Dakar.

The Movement of the Democratic Forces of Casamance has waged a low-level insurgency against Senegal's government since the early 1980s. The last few months have seen an increase in attacks after years of relative calm. These attacks come ahead of a heavily criticized presidential poll at the end of this month.

Casamance has been plagued by sporadic violence as the rebels have fought for independence and against each other. The Casamance region is separated from the rest of Senegal by the nation of Gambia.